Handel Al Lampo Dell'Armi

Jennifer Larmore
Rene Jacobs

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Handel
• Al
• Lampo
• Dell'Armi
• Jennifer
• Larmore
• Rene
• Jacobs
• baroque
• opera
• aria

[contessabrilliante]

O.K. so Scholl is "untouchable"? Well,

SO IS Jennifer Larmore. Shame you can't fully appreciate it.

[altodivo]

on a higher scale? In what sense? A countertenor cannot compete with a contralto's lower register or volume output. Sad but true. Scholl does sing this fabulously though.

[guiradobrasil]

I've heard many singers sing Giulio Cesare on record and IMHO and for my taste, nobody, mezzo or countenor, did it better than Larmore, she's simply superb in this role.

[90lysander]

Vocal classification is a tricky thing. Let's remember, for example, that the term "mezzo-soprano" did not exist in Handel's day. It's really a fairly modern idea. Do you think Larmore would have been considered a soprano then, or a contralto?

Argument aside, I think her Cesare is amazing -- easily the best out there. Rich lower notes, soaring highs, incredible acting and versatility.

[celestialbakura]

I think its part of the Mezzo versatility that can allow her to make this part live. Her tone is still dark, and she has the ability, so she is completely legitimate with this aria. Its great : D

[olympicfreak678]

I think they were trying to label the role as a contralto, not Larmore. I think Larmore really doesn't have the timbre of a contralto, but she is absolutely amazing nevertheless. The piece really is superb.

[hereismy2cents]

Super!

[hereismy2cents]

She is super!

[NicolinoXVIII]

no but her timbre is a bit different from a pure contralto hehe but its ok she is very good

[elias12186]

Are the notes she is singing any different?

[NicolinoXVIII]

no, i meant a female contralto though, she is a mezzo but its ok , whatever :)

[cantatrix]

This role was perhaps originally written for the castrato Senesino, but even in Handel's time, women would often sing the role when a castrato was unavailable or undesirable. Countertenors were reserved mostly for church settings in those days.